Session 16- Introduction to Mardita (Steps 1 and 2)

Congratulations on getting through our first checkpoint test.
Let’s start moving literally…
Mardita: “Marditam” is a foot movement mentioned in Sangita Ratnakara that refers ” to rubbing the floor with one’s sole”. This set of adavus gets its name from this foot movement which is the predominant motion here. The Marditam execution [...]

Academy Interaction and facilitation …

Hi Everybody,
Thank you for the overwhelming response and the support extended to us in this project.
It’s a pleasure to see so many people interested in this divine art.
In an attempt to bring more organization and structure to this academy and to enable interaction and discussion essential to reasonable knowledge gain, we request you to [...]

Test 1-Checkpoint

Dear students,
It is important we check to see if we have grasped and reatined what has been taught in the previous sessions, before we proceed further. So let’s see.
Here are the questions…

What does Thattikumudu mean? When is it done?
What are steps called in Bharathanatyam jargon?
How many speeds are prescribed for practicing steps ?
What [...]

Session 15- Asamyutha hastas and their meaning

We have learned the Asamyutha Hastas in session 8. Each of these hastas /their names have a meaning. We are going to study the meaning of these hastas in today’s session. It may be necessary to have a look at the chart provided earlier to see how the gesture actually denotes the meaning.
 

Hasta

Meaning

Pathakam

Flag/creeper

Tripathakam

3 parts [...]

Session 14- Completing Naatadavu and related terminology

Before we start learning the7th variation in Naatadavu, let’s look at two other feet positions involved. We are going to study 2 terms today. They are :

Agratala Sancharam: This is a term from Natyasashtra that describes, one foot placed normally and the other foot placed on the toes with the [...]

Session 13- Naatadavu Step 6

The 6th variation in Naatadavu is an extension of the previous step.
Let’s now watch the animation…

Looking at the steps in the flow of this step…

Start- Sit in araimandi with hands stretched out inTirupathakam.
Thai-

Feet- Move right feet behind the left to make a swastikam.
Hands- Move right arm upwards to stretch above the head with tirupathakam facing [...]

Session 13- Naatadavu Step 5

Naatadavu Step 5, is a geometrical construction literally. The hand here draws an arc and straight lines. This step lends itself beautifully to group choreographies.
The Foot postions are once again the swasthikam and Naatu.
The Hands are in Tirupathakam.
Lets watch this step in our animation.

Now lets analyze the flow…

Start- Sit in araimandi with hands stretched [...]

Session 12- Practice session

Today is your day to practice a few of the steps you have learned, in 3 speeds, with my audio accompanying you.
Have you done your Salutation? Good! We will work on all the steps starting from Tatdavau 7 - Naatadavu 4. Sit in Aramandi. Good!
Tat adavu 7 - Click on the adavu to [...]

Session 11- Naatadavu Step 4

Have you practiced the 3rd step?
Let’s now move on to the next one. The 4th step is an extension of the 3rd one. At this point, a foot position known as swastikam is introduced.(Ref Fig). In this position one leg is placed on the toes behind the other leg that rests normally. This is a [...]

Check Point / Guidelines for practising Adavus

It may at this juncture be pertinent to try answering the following questions?
From a Student’s point of View :

How am I dancing ?
How does my dance come across/ look to the audience ?
How good are my adavus/nritta?
Are they any rules to be followed while practising the adavus?
Is quanity more important than quality, or in other [...]